JPH0248314Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a rotational force transmission device for a folding bicycle, and in particular, the present invention relates to a rotational force transmission device for a folding bicycle. This invention relates to a rotational force transmission device that can move to any position and any direction while a chain is suspended from a large gear.

(Conventional technology) Conventionally, large gears in folding bicycles include:
Since the chain is suspended between the small gear attached to the center of the rear wheel, no matter how much it needs to be folded, the chain can remain suspended and the pedals, crank, and crankshaft with the large gear attached can be easily attached. It was considered impossible to move the bearing to any position or direction. Therefore, the folding method of conventional folding bicycles is subject to restrictions from this point of view, and as a result, the folding methods of conventional folding bicycles can be roughly divided into chain, pedal, crank, and The only options were to remove the large gear, or fold only the other parts excluding these. Naturally, if the former option is selected, folding will require tools and other extremely troublesome operations, and if the latter option is selected, the folding rate will be extremely low. There was a problem with it being low.

(Means for Solving the Problem) The present invention has been made to solve the problem, and is a folding bicycle that improves the workability of folding work and improves the folding rate. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a rotational force transmission device for a type bicycle.

In order to achieve this purpose, the present invention connects the end of the arm frame to the vehicle body side frame with a ball joint,
A clutch mechanism is coaxially supported at predetermined positions on the vehicle side frame and the arm frame, and a crank is pivotally attached to the tip of the arm frame, so that rotation of the arm frame around the ball joint is controlled. This is a rotational force transmission device for a folding bicycle that allows the clutch mechanism to be engaged and disengaged simply by executing the operation.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall side view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main part thereof.

In FIG. 1, numeral 1 indicates a vehicle body horizontal frame. As shown in FIG. 2, the end of an arm frame 3 is rotatably connected to the vehicle side frame 1 by a ball-and-socket joint 2, and the end of the arm frame 3 has a pedal 4, a crank 5 and a large A crankshaft 7 on which a gear 6 is mounted is supported by a clutch bearing 8.

A clutch mechanism 9 is coaxially supported on the vehicle body lateral frame 1 and the arm frame 3 at predetermined positions. That is, this clutch mechanism 9 consists of a transmission gear 9a, a transmission clutch 9b, a passive clutch 9c, and a passive gear 9d, among which the transmission gear 9
a is coaxially supported on the arm frame 3 on the side where the large gear 6 is attached, a transmission clutch 9b is coaxially supported on the opposite side, and a passive clutch 9c is supported as a shaft on the vehicle body horizontal frame 1 so that its clutch teeth mesh with the transmission clutch 9b. A passive gear 9d is coaxially supported on the opposite side of the vehicle body horizontal frame 1.

The transmission gear 9a of this clutch mechanism 9
and a large gear 6 attached to the clutch shaft 7.
A chain 10 is suspended between the passive gear 9
A chain 11 is suspended between the small gear 13 (shown in the first picture) mounted at the center of the rear wheel 12 (shown in the first picture) or another intermediate gear (not shown) interlocked with the small gear 13 (shown in the first picture). ing.

Therefore, the rotation of the arm frame 3 about the ball joint 2 causes the transmission clutch 9b to
When the passive clutch 9c is engaged, the rotational force applied to the pedal 4 is transferred to the small gear 13 via the crank 5, crankshaft 7, large gear 6, chain 10, clutch mechanism 9, chain 11, etc. This causes the rear wheels 12 to rotate in conjunction with the transmission.

First, the folding operation of the rotational force transmission device according to the present invention will be explained. That is, the vehicle body horizontal frame 1 is kept fixed, and the crank bearing 8 fixed to the tip of the arm frame 3 is removably fixed to the vehicle body horizontal frame 1. (not shown), then grasp one of the pedals 4, crank 5, large gear 6, arm frame 3, etc. with one hand, and as shown in FIG. A passive clutch 9 pivotally supported on the vehicle body horizontal frame 1
With respect to c, the arm frame 3 is moved a distance necessary for disengaging the transmission clutch 9b, which is pivotally supported by the arm frame 3, using the ball joint 2 as a fulcrum.
After moving the arm frame 3, the arm frame 3 is attached to the ball joint 2 to form a group, as shown in FIG. The main parts of the rotational force transmission device (pedal 4, crank 5, large gear 6,
Crankshaft 7, crank bearing 8, clutch mechanism 9
The present invention can be achieved simply by moving the transmission gear 9a, the transmission clutch 9b, and the chain 10) suspended between the large gear 6 and the transmission gear 9a to a desired position and direction while maintaining the running configuration. The folding operation of such a rotational force transmission device is completed.

Next, in order to unfold this, the clutch mechanism 9 is engaged by performing the operation opposite to the above-mentioned folding operation, so that the force applied to the pedal 4 is The rotational force is now in a state where it can be transmitted to the rear wheels 12 via the rotational force transmission device, and driving becomes possible.

Next, another embodiment will be described.

That is, first, the ball joint 2 attached to the end of the arm frame 3 is attached to a removable means (not shown) consisting of a ratchet or the like and/or a slidable means (not shown) consisting of these and a rail etc. ), etc., to the vehicle body horizontal frame 1, when folding the folding bicycle to which these are attached, the arm frame 3 is attached to the main parts of the rotational force transmission device (pedals 4, crank 5, large gear). 6,
crankshaft 7, crank bearing 8, transmission gear 9a,
Together with the transmission clutch 9b and the chain 10), it is possible to remove it from the other frame or to slide it from the position in the running configuration. Or, it can be folded without any trouble.

Furthermore, if the vehicle body side frame 1 and the arm frame 3 are not connected by the ball and socket joint 2 or the like, and there are protrusions and/or fitting parts on both frames 1 and 3, they can If they do not exist, they should be provided and a locking and disengaging means (not shown) consisting of them and/or ratchets etc.
When mounted, it becomes possible to easily engage and disengage and/or engage and disengage the vehicle body lateral frame 1 and the arm frame 3. When the frames 1 and 3 are engaged and/or fitted by the engagement and disengagement means, the transmission clutch 9b and the passive clutch 9c are simultaneously engaged, so that the rotational force of the large gear 6 is transferred to the clutch mechanism 9. etc., the small gear 13
On the other hand, when the engagement and/or engagement by the engagement and disengagement means is released, not only the clutch mechanism 9 but also the frames 1 and 3 can be released. When this is executed, the main parts of the rotational force transmission device (pedal 4, crank 5,
Large gear 6, crankshaft 7, crank bearing 8, transmission gear 9a, transmission clutch 9b and chain 10)
Since the frame is separated from the other frames, folding can be performed completely freely for the other frames.

By the way, so far, only a folding bicycle has been described as an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and generally can be applied to a main gear (large gear 6 in the above embodiment) and a driven gear. (the small gear 13 in the above embodiment), if it is necessary to fold their support frame (the vehicle body horizontal frame 1 in the above embodiment), for example, a rotational force transmission mechanism of a similar type such as a folding motorcycle etc. is also applicable.

In addition, the present invention is usually required in many cases with a main drive gear (large gear 6 in the above embodiment), a transmission gear (9a in the above embodiment) and/or a passive gear (9d in the above embodiment). and a passive gear (small gear 13 in the above embodiment) are connected by a chain (10 or 11 in the above embodiment) belt or the like, but each of these two gears (large gear in the above embodiment) 6 and the transmission gear 9a, or the passive gear 9d and the small gear 13), either directly, or the main drive gear (the large gear 6 in the above embodiment) or the passive gear (the small gear 13 in the above embodiment) An intermediate gear (not shown) is separately supported on each frame (in the above embodiment, the arm frame 3 or the vehicle body lateral frame 1) that is supported on the shaft.
This is also applicable when they are indirectly connected via, etc.

(Effect of the invention) As described above, in the folding bicycle equipped with the rotational force transmission device according to the invention, the pedals 4, the crank 5, the large gear 6, the crankshaft 7, the crank bearing 8, and the transmission gear 9a of the clutch mechanism 9. The transmission clutch 9b, the chain 10 suspended between the large gear 6 and the transmission gear 9a, and the crank bearing 8 fixed to the tip of the arm frame 3 forming a unit are ratcheted to the vehicle body horizontal frame 1. Not only does it become possible to run immediately by simply releasably fixing the vehicle with a locking/disengaging means (not shown), but also by simply releasing the locking by the above-mentioned locking/disengaging means.
Since the arm frame 3, etc. can be easily moved to any position and direction without the need for any tools while remaining in the same state as when riding, it is possible to easily bend/stretch/stretch the folding bicycle equipped with this. It is clear that the ease of use is much better than that of a folding bicycle without this.

In addition, in terms of folding ratio, the folding bicycle equipped with the rotational force transmission device according to the present invention has the following advantages:
Regardless of the direction, it is possible to move the large gear 6 to a position where it is substantially parallel to and substantially adhered to at least one of them, so even if a known folding method is used for other frames, this method can be used. It is clear that it is possible to make a folding bicycle that is much better than a folding bicycle that is not equipped with a folding bicycle.

As described above, the rotational force transmission device according to the present invention has the effect of dramatically improving the efficiency of the folding and unfolding operations and the folding rate of the folding bicycle to which the device is attached.

In addition, with this invention, things that were previously considered impossible (pedal 4, crank 5, large gear 6, crankshaft 7, crank bearing 8, transmission gear 9a and transmission clutch 9b of clutch mechanism 9, and large gear The chain 10 suspended between the transmission gear 9a and the arm frame 3, together with the arm frame 3, can be moved to any position in the running state.
By making it possible to move the frame in any direction (and even remove it), it becomes possible to adopt a more compact folding method than before for other frames. This will have the effect of stimulating new inventions and encouraging creativity and ingenuity in creating folding bicycles that are more compact than ever before.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an overall side view of a bicycle showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the relevant parts in its running configuration, and Figs. 3 and 4 are both in the middle of the folding operation. FIG. 3 is a plan view of relevant main parts. 1... Vehicle side frame, 2... Ball joint, 3
... Arm frame, 4 ... Pedal, 5 ... Crank, 6 ... Large gear, 7 ... Crankshaft, 8 ... Crank bearing, 9 ... Clutch mechanism, 9a ... Transmission gear, 9b ... Transmission clutch , 9c...Passive clutch, 9d...Passive gear, 10...Chain, 1
1...Chain, 12...Rear wheel, 13...Small gear.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A crankshaft with pedals, a crank, and a large gear attached is attached to the tip of the arm frame, and the end of the crankshaft is connected to the side frame of the car body with a ball-and-socket joint. A clutch mechanism that supports the clutch mechanism, a chain that is suspended between the large gear and the clutch mechanism, and a chain that is suspended between the clutch mechanism and the small gear that is attached to the center of the rear wheel or other intermediate gear that interlocks with it. A rotational force transmission device for a folding bicycle, characterized in that the clutch mechanism is engaged and disengaged by rotating the arm frame around the ball joint.